Flash light



FLASH LIGHT 2 Shets-Sneet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 INVENTORS AITORNEYS-April 2, 1935. Q, RHElN Er AL 1,996,655

FLASH LIGHT Filed Dec. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSZ ATTORNEYS'Hatented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASH LIGHT OttoRhein, Rocky River, Ohio, and Edward G. Clemenson, Pelham, N. Y.,assignors to National Carbon Company Inc., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 4, 1931, Serial No. 579,072

16 Claims.

- a comparatively large translucent dome over the bulb that is moved outof the casing to elevated position when the bulb is lighted and backinto the casing to depressed position when the bulb is extinguished.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a unitary mobilebody that slides in a container casing between elevated and depressedposition.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a motive spring tomove the body from depressed to elevated position.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a. latch to hold thebody in depressed position.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a. push button thatmay be manually depressed from the outside of the casing to release thelatch.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a push button thatmay be moved to a second position to release the body from the casingfor the purpose of renewing the bulb or battery.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a push button thatlimits the movement of the body in the casing.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with contacts adapted tohold a battery of 'indi-' vidual or unit cells.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a bulb clip fromwhich the bulb may be removed laterally;

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with a device forelevating the body and closing the electric circuit at the same timeand, conversely, for opening the circuit when the body is depressed.

Another object is to provide such a flashlight with two component unitshaving no loose parts that may be misplaced or lost when the light istaken apart for recharging.

Other objects are to provide such a flashlight that is ornamental inappearance, economical to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy tomanipulate, convenient to recharge, effective in performance, andreliable in operation.

Other aims, objects; and novel features will be manifest by-thefollowing specification and the accompanying illustration, in which Fig.1 is a front elevation of the flashlight with the casing partiallybroken away to show the body in depressed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the body in elevated position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the body with a 5 bulb and batterytherein. r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the flashlight somewhat indetail with the front half of the casing removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of 1 Fig. 4.

'01 Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section along the line ll-ll of Fig. 4.

The flashlight is of a substantially rectangular or flattened type of asize adapted to fit in a vest pocket, handbag or purse and comprises acasing having an open end or top in which a translucent dome that coversthe bulb may be moved upward some distance out of the casing to anelevated position and downward substantially flush with the casing to adepressed position.

The bulb and dome are carried by a frame that slides in the casing andis moved to elevated posi- 'tion by a motive spring, and is held indepressed position by a latch. The latch may be released from theoutside of the casing by a button that limits the upward travel of thebody, and the button may be depressed to a lower or second position torelease the body so that it may be removed from the casing.

The body is provided with a bulb that is held in a bulb clip from whichit may be removed laterally. A resilient conductor makes contact withthe bottom of the bulb, and a bulb stop on the dome limits the upwardmovement of the-bulb in the clip. The body is also provided withsuitable resilient contacts or conductors for holding a battery ofindividual or uni cells, and for connecting the cells in series with thebulb and ers 34.

the upward movement of the body. This button may be disengaged from theslot by an inward movement to release the body from the casing.

The body comprises a U-shaped metal frame having the upper ends turnedinward and provided with catches for holding the dome, and a latch forholding the catches in place. The mov able contact of the switch iscarried by the body which is moved upward with respect to a stationarycontact on a slide. When in its lower or depressed position the electriccircuit is open and the slide is -mostly within the body, from which itprojects when the body is in elevated position.

One example of our invention is embodied in the flashlight shown in theaccompanying drawings. This flashlight comprises a fiat rectangularcasing I0 having a closed bottom II and an open topI 2 in which aloosely fitting dome I3 is adapted to move up and down.

The dome I3 is part of a body I4 comprising a U-shaped frame I5 providedwith a bulb clip I6 and a spring abutment I1.

The spring abutment I1 and the bottom I8 of the frame .I5 are providedwith rectangular openings in which an elevating slide I9 is looselyheld. 'The slide I9 is provided with spring shoulders 20, and a motivespring 2| is carried in partially compressed condition around the slideI8 between the spring shoulders 28 and spring abutment I1. The slide I8is also provided with a switch contact 22'that closes the electriccircuit and also limits the upward movement of the body with respect tothe slide.

The body I4 is provided with two battery cells 23 and 24. Cell 23 issupported at the lower end by a cell-to-switch conductor 25, and at thetop by an intercell conductor 26 that also supports the lower end ofcell 24. The upper end of cell 24 is supported by a cell-to-bulbconductor 21 that has a resilient bulb contact 28 that makes electricalconnection with the center terminal of a bulb 28 in clip IS. Theconductor 25 is carried under overturned ears 38 that are sheared fromthe bottom I8 of the frame I5 and suitable insulation, such as paper orfiber I3, is interposed between conductor 25 and the ears 30 and frameI5 to electrically isolate the conductor. Conductors 26 and 21 areattached to frame I5 in a similar manner. The portions of conductors 25and 26 supporting the lower ends of cells 23 and 24 are comparativelyrigid but the portions of conductors 26 and 21 supporting the upper endsof cells 23 and 24 are sufiiciently resilient'to permit the cells to beinserted and withdrawn and to compensate for variations in length.Conductor 25 is provided with a movable switch contact32 in the path ofstationary switch contact 22.

The upper end of frame I5 is bifurcated and the forked ends are offsetinward to provide shoulders 33 and 34. upon which dome I3 is supported.Ends 35 and 36 are also turned inward, overlapped, and secured togetherby rivet 31, and a dome catch 38 is sheared from end 36 above shoulder34 and turned outward so that it extends into a recess 39 in dome I3 tohold it on should- Similar dome catches 48 and 4| are sheared from theinturned ends 42 and 43 respectively and extend likewise into recesses44 and 45 in dome I3. A dome latch keeper 46 is sheared from end 43 andturned upward and end 42 latches behind this keeper to hold dome catches40 and 4| in dome recesses 44 and 45.

The translucent dome I3 is provided with a bulb stop 46' at each sidethereof to hold bulb 29 in good electrical contact with bulb contact 28,and a spring abutment support 41 is sheared from frame I5 and turnedinward above spring abutment I1 to prevent it from being bent upward byspring 2 I.

The front of easing I0 is provided with a slot 48 and a keeper 49sheared therefrom and bent or pressed inward. The front of frame I5 alsohas a sheared portion pressed inward to provide a recess for keeper 49and a latch 50 that cooperates therewith. The front of frame I5 is alsoprovided with an opening in alinement with slot 48 in which a pushbutton 5| is rigidly secured. When body I4 is in depressed positionbutton 5| is in the lower end of slot 48. When body I4 is in elevatedposition button 5| is resting against or near the upper end of slot 48and limits the upward movement of the body with respect to the casing.

When body I4 of the flashlight is in depressed position the electricalcircuit is broken between switch contacts 22 and the end 32 of conductor25. When body I4 is in elevated position the electrical circuit iscomplete and the path is from the upper end of cell 23 to conductor 26which connects the upper end of this cell with the lower end of cell 24.From the upper end of this cell the path is to conductor 21 whichconnects this cell with the lower end of bulb 29. The path then leadsthrough the filament of the bulb to bulb clip I6 which is electricallyconnected to frame I5 through which the path extends to slide I9, switchcontact 22, and the end 32 of conductor 25 which is connected to thebottom of cell 23.

When the flashlight is in normal condition body I4 is held in depressedposition by latch 50 which is under keeper 49, and stationary contact 22is separated from movable contact 32. In order to operate the lightbutton 5| is depressed. This presses the resilient front wall of frameI5 inward and releases latch 50 from keeper 49, thereby allowing spring2| to force body I4 upward by the pressure of slide I9 against thebottom II of casing III. When body I4 has reached substantially theupper limit of its range of movement, movable contact 32 engagesstationary contact 22 and completes the electric circuit through theflashlight, and button 5| is substantially at the upper end of slot 48and prevents a further upward movement of the body. In this positiondome I3 projects some distance above the upper edge I2 of body II) andthe light from bulb 29 is thrown both upward and to the side. Due to thefact that the dome is translucent, the character of the light will besoft and mellow without objectionable shadows, streaks, or glare. Toextinguish the light the body is moved downward by pressure on dome I3until latch 50 snaps under keeper 49. This downward movement opens theelectrical circuit by separating contacts 22 and The dome I3 ispreferably formed of a material that is highly translucent but notentirely transparent, and it may be tinted with white or other suitablecolors. Examples of such materials are thermoplastic resins, such asvinyl resins; thermoreactive resins, such as ureaformaldehyde plastics;and pyroxylin plastics, although other 'materials giving the desiredeffect may be used.

Casing I0 may be formed of any suitable metal,

embossed or engraved with any suitable design,

and decorated with an electroplate of rare or lustrous metal, such asgold, silver or chromium, or a coating of enamel, lacquer, or otherartistic finish. Frame I5, slide I 9, spring 2|, and conductors 25, 26,and 21 may be made of conven- 'tional materials, such' as brass, bronze,or iron, which are adapted for the purpose, and suitable insulation maybe employed where it is required.

While the operating button of this flashlight is shown rigidly attachedto the body and sliding in a slot in the upper casing, this particularstructure is not imperative and the invention includes operating buttonsof a different type, such as one carried in a closely fitting roundopening in. the body-casing and sliding in a slot in the body or frame.Such a button would be desirable from the standpoint of appearance.

Although the flashlight as shown is provided with a bulb clip from whichthe lamp bulb may be removed laterally, it is understood that othertypes of bulb clips or sockets may be employed and that the bulb may beinserted longitudinally and be either of a sliding or threaded fit in asocket.

Although the novel features of this invention are shown applied to aflashlight of the vest pocket type it is understood that they may beapplied to flashlights having diilerent size, shape, appearance, anduse. Where no material has been specified it is understood that aconventional material has been employed. While only one particulararrangement of the parts has been shown it is understood that they mayhave a different form and be assembled in a different manner withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:-

1. A flashlight comprising a casing having an open end, an elongatedslot in the side thereof, and a keeper on the inner surface thereofadjacent said slot; and a mobile body in said casing having a depressedposition and an elevated position and comprising a frame; a translucentdome carried by said frame and substantially filling the open end ofsaid casing; a bulb clip carried by said frame; a bulb in said clipunder said dome; aspring abutment carried by said frame; an elevatingslide carried by said frame and provided with a spring shoulder; amotive spring carried in partially compressed condition around saidslide between said shoulder and said abutment, and adapted to move saidbody to elevated position; a switch contact carried by said slide; twobattery cells carried by said body; a cellto-switch conductor carried bysaid frame; an intercell conductor carried by said frame; a cell--to-bulb conductor carried by said frame; a latch carried by said frameand adapted to cooperate with said keeper to retain said body indepressed position; and a push button carried by said frame in said slotand adapted to disengage said latch thereby allowing said springto movesaid cellto-switch conductor into contact with said switch contact andsaid body to elevated position.

2. A flashlight comprising a casing; a mobile body in said casing; abulb clip carried by said body: a bulb in said bulb clip; a dome carriedby said body over said bulb; a resilient bulb contact below said bulb; aplurality of bulb stops on said dome for holding said bulb in engagementwith said bulb contact; a battery carried by said frame; and means forcompleting the electrical circuit through said battery and bulb.

3. A flashlight comprising a casing; a mobile body within said casing; aslide carried by said body; a spring adapted to move said body upwardwith respect to said slide; a switch contact carried by said slide; aconductor carried by said body; means for latching said body indepressed position; and means for manually releasingsaid latch to allowsaid spring to move said body upward to elevated position and saidconductor into contact with said contact to close the electric circuit.g

4. In a fiashlight;-a casing having a slot therein; a mobllebodycarrying a bulb and a battery. in said casing; a spring for moving saidbody upward with respect to said casing; means for latching said body indepressed position; and a button carried by said body in said slot forreleasing said latch and limiting the upward movement of said body.

5. In a flashlight; a casing; a body in said casing having a shoulderthereon; a dome resting upon said shoulder and having a plurality ofrecesses therein; a plurality of dome catches carried by said body andextending into said recesses respectively; and a releasable latch forholding said catches in said recesses.

6. In a flashlight; a casing having a portion of the wall pressed inwardto provide a keeper; a mobile body within said casing having a portionthereof pressed inward to provide a recess for said keeper and a latch;means for releasing said latch from said keeper; and means for movingsaid body upward with respect to said casing.

7. In a flashlight; a casing having a slot and a keeper; a mobile bodycarrying a bulb and a battery within said casing and having a resilientwall carrying a latch cooperating with said keeper; means for movingsaid body upward with respect to said casing; and a button carried bysaid wall in said slot and adapted for being depressed to one positionto release said latch from said keeper to allow said means to move saidbody upward to operating position wherein said bulb is lighted, and to asecond position to release said body from said casing for the renewal ofsaid battery or bulb.

8. In a flashlight; a casing; a mobile body in said casing having adepressed position and an elevated position; a bulb carried by saidbody; aplurality of conductors carried by said body for holding unitcells; a plurality of unit cells in said conductors; resilient means formoving said body from depressed to elevated position; and means forclosing the electric circuit through said battery and bulb when saidbody is in elevated position.

9. A flashlight comprising the combination of a casing; a mobile body insaid casing having a depressed position and an elevated position; a bulband a battery carried by said body; resilient means for moving said bodyto elevated position; and means for latching said body in depressedposition against movement by said resilient means.

10. In a flashlight the combination of a casing having an open top; amobile body in said casing having an elevated position and a depressedposition; a lamp bulb carried by said body; a translucent dome carriedby said body over said lamp bulb and projecting from said casing whensaid body is in elevatedposition; a spring for moving said body toelevated position and for lighting said bulb; and means for latchingsaid body in depressed position.

11. A flashlight comprising a casing; a body movable in said casingbetween depressed position and elevated position; a bulb and a batterywithin said body; a spring for moving said body from depressed toelevated position; means for latching said body in depressed position;and means for completing the electrical circuit position and elevatedposition; two battery cells carried by said body in spaced relation: alamp bulb carried by said body between said cells; and a switch carriedby said body between said cells for closing the electric circuit throughsaid cells and said bulb. 7

13. A flashlight comprising an outer casing; a body movable in saidcasing between depressed position and elevated position; two batterycells carried by said body in spaced relation; a lamp bulb carried bysaid body between said cells; and a switch carried by said body betweensaid cells for closing the electric circuit through said lamp bulb whensaid body is in elevated position.

14. A flashlight comprising an outer casing: a body movable in saidcasing between depressed position and elevated position; two batterycells carried by said body in spaced relation; a lamp bulb carried bysaid body; and means carried by said body between-said cells for movingsaid body to elevated position wherein said lamp bulb is l 15. Aflashlight comprising an outer casing: a body movable in said casingbetween depressed position and elevated position; a plurality 0t batterycells carried by said body'in parallel spaced relation; a lamp bulbcarried by said body between said cells; and means carried by said bodybetween said cells for moving said body to elevated position and forclosing the electric circuit through said bulb and cells when said bodyis in elevated position.

18. In a flashlight; a rectangular flat type casing having a closedbottom and an open top; a movable body within said casing: a bulbcarried by said body; a rectangular translucent domecarriedbysaldbodyandsubstantiallyflllingthetop of said casing; and meansfor automatically elevating said body with respect to said casing.

O'I'IO RHEIN. EDWARD G. CLEMENSON.

